Microelectromechanical sensor device with improved power consumption

Abstract

A microelectromechanical sensor device has a detection structure and an associated electronic circuitry; the electronic circuitry receives, when the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, an external power supply voltage and is provided with a voltage regulator which generates a regulated voltage having a different value from the external power supply voltage and at least one voltage domain powered by the regulated voltage. The electronic circuitry has a power supply management core, always powered by the external power supply voltage and controlling the voltage regulator to interrupt power supply to the voltage domain and implement a first power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device.

1 . A microelectromechanical sensor device, comprising:
 a detection structure; and   electronic circuitry coupled to the detection structure, the electronic circuitry configured to receive, in a case where the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, an external power supply voltage, the electronic circuitry including:
 a voltage regulator configured to generate a regulated voltage having a different value from the external power supply voltage; 
 at least one voltage domain configured to be powered by the regulated voltage; and 
 a power supply management core configured to be always powered by the external power supply voltage in the case where the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, and configured to control the voltage regulator so as to interrupt power supply to the at least one voltage domain and implement a first power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electronic circuitry includes a digital part and an analog part, the digital part including the power supply management core and the at least one voltage domain, and   wherein, during the first power-down condition, the power supply management core is the only portion of the digital part of the electronic circuitry being electrically powered.   
     
     
         3 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 1 , wherein the power supply management core is configured to manage a transition between the first power-down condition and a second power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device in which the voltage regulator is enabled to power the at least one voltage domain with the regulated voltage the first and second power-down conditions being associated with absence of data acquisition or processing by the microelectromechanical sensor device. 
     
     
         4 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the at least one voltage domain includes digital resources powered by the regulated voltage divided into a number of sub-domains, distinct from each other and selectively controllable in power-on or power-off by a switching control logic, and   wherein, during the second power-down condition, the switching control logic is configured to interrupt power supply to one or more of the sub-domains to reduce a power consumption of the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         5 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 3 , wherein the power supply management core includes a control logic including:
 an interface stage configured to receive, from outside of the microelectromechanical sensor device, a first power-down control signal; and   a soft power-down procedure stage configured to generate a control signal to enable or disable the voltage regulator as a function of the first power-down control signal.   
     
     
         6 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 5 , wherein the interface stage includes digital resources enabled to receive and interpret the first power-down control signal and not enabled to perform any further writing or reading operation. 
     
     
         7 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the power supply management core is configured to manage the transition as a function of the first power-down control signal; and   wherein the first power-down condition is automatically implemented upon powering-on of the microelectromechanical sensor device, corresponding to supply of the external power supply voltage from outside of the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         8 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 7 , wherein the power supply management core is configured to receive a second power-down control signal and to enable again the first power-down condition as a function of the second power-down control signal. 
     
     
         9 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one voltage domain includes a respective interface stage configured to receive power supply management instructions from outside of the microelectromechanical sensor device, and provide the second power-down control signal to the power supply management core as a function of the power supply management instructions. 
     
     
         10 . The microelectromechanical sensor device according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the power supply management core includes:
 a coupling stage interposed between the at least one voltage domain and the soft power-down procedure stage, and configured to receive the second power-down control signal from the interface stage of the at least one voltage domain, and 
   wherein the soft power-down procedure stage is configured to generate a control signal to enable isolation cells of the coupling stage during at least the first power-down condition, and disable the isolation cells of the coupling stage during the second power-down condition.   
     
     
         11 . An electronic apparatus, comprising:
 a battery configured to generate an external power supply voltage;   a microelectromechanical sensor device including:
 a detection structure; and 
 electronic circuitry coupled to the detection structure, the electronic circuitry configured to receive, in a case where the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, the external power supply voltage, the electronic circuitry including:
 a voltage regulator configured to generate a regulated voltage having a different value from the external power supply voltage; 
 at least one voltage domain configured to be powered by the regulated voltage; and 
 a power supply management core configured to be always powered by the external power supply voltage in the case where the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, and configured to control the voltage regulator so as to interrupt power supply to the at least one voltage domain and implement a first power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device; and 
 
   a control unit configured to generate power supply management instructions for the power supply management core.   
     
     
         12 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the electronic apparatus is a mobile or wearable type of electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the electronic circuitry includes a digital part and an analog part, the digital part including the power supply management core and the at least one voltage domain, and   wherein, during the first power-down condition, the power supply management core is the only portion of the digital part of the electronic circuitry being electrically powered.   
     
     
         14 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 11 ,
 wherein the power supply management core is configured to manage a transition between the first power-down condition and a second power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device, and   wherein the voltage regulator is enabled to power the at least one voltage domain with the regulated voltage the first and second power-down conditions being associated with absence of data acquisition or processing by the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         15 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the at least one voltage domain includes digital resources powered by the regulated voltage divided into a number of sub-domains, distinct from each other and selectively controllable in power-on or power-off by a switching control logic, and   wherein, during the second power-down condition, the switching control logic is configured to interrupt power supply to one or more of the sub-domains to reduce a power consumption of the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         16 . The electronic apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the power supply management core includes a control logic including:
 an interface stage configured to receive, from outside of the microelectromechanical sensor device, a first power-down control signal; and   a soft power-down procedure stage configured to generate a control signal to enable or disable the voltage regulator as a function of the first power-down control signal.   
     
     
         17 . A power supply management method, comprising:
 receiving, by electronic circuitry of a microelectromechanical sensor device, an external power supply voltage in a case where the microelectromechanical sensor device is powered, the microelectromechanical sensor device including a detection structure coupled to the electronic circuitry, the electronic circuitry including a voltage regulator, at least one voltage domain, and a power supply management core;   generating, by the voltage regulator, a regulated voltage having a different value from the external power supply voltage;   powering, by the voltage regulator, the at least one voltage domain with the regulated voltage; and   controlling, by the power supply management core, the voltage regulator to interrupt power supply to the at least one voltage domain and implement a first power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 managing, by the power supply management core, a transition between the first power-down condition and a second power-down condition of the microelectromechanical sensor device in which the voltage regulator is enabled to power the at least one voltage domain with the regulated voltage, the first and second power-down conditions being associated with absence of data acquisition or processing by the microelectromechanical sensor device.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 automatically implementing the first power-down condition upon powering-on of the microelectromechanical sensor device, corresponding to the supply of the external power supply voltage;   receiving, by the power supply management core, a first power-down control signal from outside of the microelectromechanical sensor device; and   managing, by the power supply management core, the transition as a function of the first power-down control signal.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving, by the power supply management core, a second power-down control signal; and   enabling, by the power supply management core, again the first power-down condition as a function of the second power-down control signal.